Clarence Chant

Clarence Chant
Born	31 May 1865(1865-05-31) Ontario, Canada
Died	18 November 1956(1956-11-18) (aged 91) Ontario, Canada
Residence	Toronto, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Fields	Astronomy, Physics and Mathematics
Institutions	University of Toronto
Alma mater	University of Toronto Harvard University
Known for	being the "father of Canadian astronomy"
Notes His book, Our Wonderful Universe has been translated into five other languages.[1]

Clarence Augustus Chant (May 31, 1865–November 18, 1956) was a Canadian astronomer and physicist.

He was born in Hagermans Corners, Ontario to Christopher Chant and Elizabeth Croft. In 1882 he attended Markham High School, where he demonstrated a mathematical ability. After graduation he attended St. Catherines Collegiate Institute and York County Model School in Toronto. He left to work as an instructor in 1884, and taught at Maxwell, Osprey Township for the following three years.

By 1887 he began studying mathematics and physics at the University College of the University of Toronto. Upon graduation he became a civil servant in Ottawa, working as a temporary clerk in the office of the Auditor General. Due to the limited prospects his stay at this job was brief, however, and in 1891 he was offered a fellowship at University of Toronto, where he gained an appointment as a lecturer of physics the following year.

While working at the university he became interested in astronomy, and in 1892 he joined what would become the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He served as president of the organization from 1904 until 1907, and also performed editing duties for the society's journal until 1956. He also contributed articles to the journal and the annual Observer's Handbook.

In 1894 he married Jean Laidlaw, and the couple would have two daughters and a son. He earned his Master's degree in 1900, and was granted a leave of absence to study for a Doctorate at Harvard University. He returned to Toronto with his Ph.D. in 1901 as a professor. In 1905 he introduced optical astronomy courses at the University of Toronto, and was the sole astronomer at the university until 1924. He lobbied the city of Toronto for an observatory, but the project was shelved with the advent of World War I.

During his career he joined five expeditions to observe solar eclipses, including the 1922 expedition that tested Einstein's theory that light could be deflected by a massive body. He performed early investigations into X-ray photography. In 1928 he published the book Our Wonderful Universe.

Finally in 1935, after many years of labor and the financial backing of the family of mining executive David Alexander Dunlap, his dreams of a world-class observatory for Canada were achieved with the opening of the David Dunlap Observatory. He retired from the university when the observatory opened, and moved into the Observatory House, Richmond Hill. He passed away at 91 years of age during the November 1956 lunar eclipse while still residing at the Observatory House.

Awards and honors

• He is considered by some to be the "father of Canadian astronomy".
• Asteroid 3315 Chant is named after him.
• The crater Chant on the Moon is named after him.

References

1. ^ http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0001512 Chant, Clarence Augustus

• D. H. Menzel, M. Minnaert, B. Levin, A. Dollfus, B. Bell (1971). "Report on Lunar Nomenclature by The Working Group of Commission 17 of the IAU". Space Science Reviews 12 (2): 136. Bibcode 1971SSRv...12..136M. doi:10.1007/BF00171763. 
• Russell, C.A. (1999). "The Legacy Continues: C. A. Chant and the David Dunlap Observatory". RASC Journal 93: 11. Bibcode 1999JRASC..93...11R. 
• Rynor, Michah (2000-09-01). "Which U of T professor knew some really big stars? Professor Clarence Chant (1865-1956), considered the father of Canadian astronomy". University of Toronto. Archived from the original on 2006-10-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20061031001700/http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bios/00/chant.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-04. 
• "Chant, Clarence Augustus". The Canadian Encyclopedia. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0001512. Retrieved 2006-11-04. 

Persondata
Name	Chant, Clarence Augustus
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1865-05-31
Place of birth	Ontario, Canada
Date of death	1956-11-18
Place of death	Ontario, Canada